The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are making headlines following the recent Hamas terror attacks. As they prepare for what could be their largest military operation in the 21st century, the IDF has called up around 360,000 reservists from around the world. While most people can recognize the AR-style rifles carried by the IDF, there is another rifle that is less familiar to many. Let’s take a closer look at the history of Israel’s current standard issue rifles.
After the formation of the Jewish State of Israel in 1948, the IDF received support primarily from France. However, this changed after the Six-Day War in 1967, and the United States became their main supporter. As a result, the IDF adopted American rifles such as the M16, M14, and CAR-15, alongside the older FN FAL.
With increased American support, the IDF started using more AR-style rifles and transitioned to the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge. In 1972, they introduced the Galil rifle, which was manufactured by Israeli Military Industries. The Galil combined the long-stroke piston system of the M1 Garand and AK-47, making it more reliable in the sandy Israeli environment. However, it was heavier than the M16A1, weighing 8.7lb compared to the M16A1’s 6.37lb, leading to limited issuance.
One drawback of the Galil was its proprietary magazine, which prevented IDF soldiers armed with Galils from sharing magazines with those armed with AR-style rifles. In response, Israeli Weapon Industries, an evolution of IMI, developed the TAR-21. This indigenous rifle used the same STANAG magazine as the AR and featured a bullpup design, with the magazine and chamber located behind the trigger. Although manipulating the TAR-21 was more challenging than the AR, its design allowed for a shorter overall length while maintaining a long barrel for accuracy and ballistic efficiency. Like the Galil, the Tavor used a long-stroke piston system for improved reliability.
In 2009, the IDF selected the updated Tavor X95 to replace the M4 and M16 variants as their standard-issue rifle. The compact size of the bullpup design is ideal for urban combat and armored vehicle operations. However, the nonstandard layout of the rifle makes it more difficult to learn and use effectively. Despite this, the IDF still maintains a significant number of converted M4s and M16s, resulting in both the Tavor and AR being fielded as standard
